Have the sunny days of summer made you start thinking about getting back on your bike? After you have dusted it off, inspected it, and replaced or repaired the tires, it is important to start thinking about being street-smart around traffic.

Although learning to ride a bicycle will come back to you after all that time, it is important to familiarize yourself with these tips to keep you safe on a bike. Things you should consider doing when you get back on a bike include:

Map out the way you are going to get to your destination – use as many streets with bicycle lanes as possible to minimize your chances of being in a Sarasota bicycle crash.

Remember, bicycles are vehicles too – this means you need to ride on the right of the road in the same direction of traffic, stop at red lights and stop signs, and use hand signals.

Be visible – by wearing bright or white clothing and having a white front-light, rear red light and reflectors, you will become more visible on the roads.

Be predictable – by riding in a straight line, drivers of cars sharing the road with you will be less likely to hit you.

By doing the above things and following road rules, you will be less likely to be involved and injured in a bicycle accident in Sarasota. Additionally, not riding while distracted will help you avoid bicycle injuries including:

Knee injuries, such as MCL, ACL, and meniscus tears

Broken collarbone (fractured clavicle)

Rotator cuff injuries

Femur fractures

Herniated disc injury

Tibia fractures

If you were injured in a bike crash in Florida that was caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses and more. Find out about your rights from a Sarasota bicycle accident lawyer at the Mallard Law Firm at (888) 409-3805 and receive a free, no-obligation consultation today.